218 
-*-—- 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
Vinegar Plant (H. O. i\ r .).—In No. 35, you will find not only n 
description but a drawing of the Vinegar plant, and directions for its use. 
Fruit-tree Borders (Flora). —These should not be cropped, but 
only the weeds hoed*off, and the surface in spring and autumn pointed 
over, two or three inches deep, with a garden fork. Digging is the very 
worst treatment applicable to a fruit border. 
Blistering of Gooseberry Leaves (Ibid). —The red blotches on 
the fruit and the red blisters on the leaves are, probably, occasioned by 
frosts occurring when they are fully charged with moisture during tlicir 
early growth. It is a good practice to take off the ends of the gooseberry 
shoots affected with the green il 3 r , or aphis; but it is not true that the 
aphis becomes a caterpillar! 
Flowers for Bees (Ibid).— Sec what we say on this subject at page 
3lG of our last volume. The broad-leaved plant you refer to, perhaps is 
Borage, which yields much pasturage for bees. 
Mending Indian-rubber Goloshes (Ibid). Fill the small holes 
by means of Indian-rubber dissolved in naptha; and to prevent further 
similar injuries, have a leather sole sewn upon them. A classed list of 
Tulips is given at page 57 of our first volume. ^ 
White Forget-me-not (Haffield). — The party kindly supplying 
these has no more at present; but it j r ou will send your direction on a 
stamped envelope, it shall be forwarded, and you will have a plant in 
your turn we have no doubt. 
Grubs in Turf (Frederick).— These which travel from the turf to 
** your flower-beds in thousands, and destroy the roots of Cyclamens, 
&c.,” are the larvse of the common Daddy Long Legs, Tipula olerucea. 
Gas-lime and quick-lime are both said to be fatal to them. See Vol. ii., 
page Cl. 
Delay of Second Swarm.— J. A.E. says: “I have for four days been 
expecting a second swarm from a common cottage hive. The first issued 
on the 2nd of June ; on the 15th I heard three notes of the queen’s 
piping, and consequently expected a swarm on the following day ; on the 
lCth I heard three notes again, and again no swarm followed; on the l/th 
I heard one note, repeated at long intervals ; on the 18tli I could hear 
none. I have now given up all idea of a second swarm, and intend to cut 
out the top of the hive, and put on a cap (one of Mr. Payne’s small 
hives).” It was in all probability the cold we had at the time your second 
swarm should have come that prevented it, and caused the young queens 
to be killed. You have done quite right by cutting a hole and placing a 
small hive upon the stock, as the season is, you will be a gainer by their 
not swarming a second time; j’our stock will be all the better, and a 
second swarm would have been of little value, indeed, none beyond that 
of uniting to some weak stock. 
Removing Small Hive. — 31.A. says : “ Perceiving that the bees didnot 
close up the cells in the small hive put upon a last year’s swarm, as it had 
been on thirty-two days. I proceeded to move it as follows : I placed a 
large sheet of pierced zinc between the adapting board and small hive. 
I then removed the small hive to a distant part of the garden, and placed 
it on a dish with room for the bees to escape, but perceiving an hour after 
that they had not left the hive, I caused a little smoke to be inserted from 
the bottom without effecting my object. An hour later, finding they still 
adhered to the comb, and that no confusion occurred in the parent hive, 1 
took the hive into a dark room and proceeded to draw them out as I could, 
with a potato stalk. Much time had now elapsed, and the weight of the 
combs caused some to give way. I then, gently, with a skimmer, removed 
them one by one, and placed them in a colander, when to my surprise I 
found one large comb filled with brood, some ot which were on the point 
of hatching, and many came out during the process. To-day I purpose 
breaking the comb, and draining the honey, but whether the comb in 
which the brood is can be made of any avail, I know not. I ought, 
perhaps, to remark, that the hive swarmed on the 9 th inst. The adapting 
board and sheet of zinc got, unfortunately, removed in the progress of the 
. work, and I placed a flower-pot saucer upon the top of the hive, an old 
straw one, in which I had cut the hole about a month since. I placed 
a small hive on the /th inst. on another old stock. How should it be 
treated? The stock I expect will swarm shortly.” ^our small hive 
should have remained until the combs were ceiled, and if room was re¬ 
quired another small hive should have been given them, placing it between 
the parent hive and the one you removed. Upon discovering brood in it, 
it should have been immediately returned; and its containing brood was 
the reason of the bees not leaving it. Cells containing brood are very 
easily distinguished from those containing honey; the cieling of the 
former is spherical, while that of the latter is plane ; had there been no 
brood in your hive the bees would have left it in a few minutes. In future 
use no smoke. Place a second small hive upon the other old stock you 
mention ; putting it between the one now on and the parent hive, as 
directed at page 104, volume 2, of Tiie Cottage Gardener. The comb 
in which you found the brood is valueless, except for returning to the 
parent hive, which might easily have been done. 
Bees (a. a.). —We have never recommended cither doubling boards or 
side hives. We should say, in about 18 or 21 days take out the cork from 
the top of your hive, and place over the 2 -inch hole a bell-glass or small 
hive, first putting a piece or two of guide-comb into them. Taylor’s 
ventilator (which appears to be the most effectual one), may be placed in 
the small hive. The glasses are sold with ventilators in them. Your 
hives are in a very proper situation. If you are anxious to obtain the 
largest quantity of honey at the least possible expense, wc say, use 
Payne's Improved Cottage Hire , and follow strictly the directions already 
given in our pages for its management. The hive you mention, with five 
[July 4. ! 
glasses, is a pretty toy, but you must not expert profit from it. Trans- 
fering stock is altogether bad practice; not one in ten ever succeeds; 
were they let alone, they would supply swarms for many years. 
Preventing Swarming.— A Constant Header says : “ Having beard 
that room might be given (to prevent swarming) by placing a butter-tub 
underneath the hive, and opening a communication when necessary, I 
did so, with a very strong and healthy hive j and having a pane of glass 
previously inserted, I soon saw the tub perfectly full of bees, and con¬ 
cluded they were working into it, as they always appeared lively and busy, 
till after about 10 days I fancied I perceived, on a narrower inspection, 
the bottom of the butter-tub strewed with dead bees; and on removing 
the hive to ascertain, I took out a full quart of dead bees. Can you in j 
any way account for this ? There was no appearance of dissension, or any j 
disease; and it could not be want of air, as the tub was by no means air¬ 
tight, light being perceptible through all the cracks. There was no com¬ 
mencement of comb, although they had been in possession of the 
tub a fortnight. I have now added caps to two of my hives, and though 
they arc filled with bees—as full as possible—and have been for a 
week, I can perceive no sign of any comb, or any appearance of their 
being at work.” Never again attempt to give your bees room after “ the 
tub fashion ;” it is well you found only a few and not all dead that went 
into it. In giving them room at the top of the hives, by placing small 
hives upon them, you have done quite right; had you done so at first, 
your small hives by this time would in all probability have been filled. 
It was, perhaps, cold that killed them ; for a constant current of cold air 
was passing through the cracks of the tub into the hive, to supply the 
place of the heated air that was passing out of it. If your caps are filled 
with bees, they are working in them; the glass where you can sec their 
combs is the last part of the hive they will come to. 
West Indian Seeds (-1 Lady Subscriber)*-—We have often heard of 
and sowed seeds of a Yellow Convolootus, or Ipomaa, and also of a Yellow 
Pea, from ditferent countries, but we never saw a good example of either; 
nevertheless, we would sow those you have from Jamaica. 1 evain is a 
local name, and not known to us. 
Coucea Scandens (J. B. Storey). —This is a half-hardy perennial 
climber, bearing purple flowers, and blooming in August. 
Asparagus (H. M. Ferns). —Do not despair, your asparagus is young. 
It will be better next year, if you give it plenty of liquid manure and salt 
this summer. Mr. M’Glashan, of Dublin, will get you the covers and 
indexes. 
Mildewed Peaches (An Amateur). —The white spots on the fruit of 
your Royal George Peach, which gradually increase and, becoming con¬ 
fluent, at length nearly cover the whole fruit, is the mildew, the agent of 
mischief being a parasitic fungus. Flowers of sulphur and quick lime 
slacked, mixed in equal quantities and dusted over the fruit, is said to be 
the best remedy. The sulphur does not impart any flavour to the fruit. 
Prevention is better than cure. Paint your wall over with a mixture of 
clay and sulphur, cut away all the roots that sink deeply into the soil, 
and promote the production of surface roots by applying mulch to the 
border. *The Royal George and some others are more liable than the 
Noblesse to be attacked in this way. 
Heracleum Giganteum (G. G.).— This does not require either 
propping or liquid-manure. Sea-kale offsets, it growing well, will be 
benefited by the application both of liquid-manure and salt. 
Sun-burning and Freckles (A Traveller in the Sun). —To prevent 
these, dissolve half an ounce of citric acid, two drachms of sugar, and 
one drachm of borax, finely powdered, in a quarter of a pint of water, and 
apply to the skin before going out. 
R.ockery (R. A. L.).—We will have an essay on this subject, if pos¬ 
sible, next week. 
Gnat Bites (T. Lindsay).— To prevent these very irritating punctures 
the hands and face may be moistened with citric acid, dissolved in water; 
and to relieve the irritation after being bitten, apply, repeatedly, spirit 
of hartshorn to the place. Thanks for your gratifying note. 
Names of Plants (Mary). —Your little yellow flower is Chet rant hus 
alpinus, or Alpine Wallflower. The other is a species of Silene, or 
Catclifly, but the specimen was too small for us to determine its specific 
name. (Augusta.)—' The seeds from the Italian sailors is Lunaria 
biennis, Honesty, or Moon-wort. Do not take up your Globe Artichokes, 
but remove all the suckers but two or three from each stool yearly. 
(Quastor.)—Your plant is Abutilon striatum. (H. W. Hargreaves.) 
How could you suppose it possible to tell the name of a Fuchsia from a 
single leaf ? We must have a sprig with flow f ers on it carefully packed 
in a box. (F. W. S.) —Your Geranium seems to be a variegated variety 
of the old Rose-scented. (G. A. - S. N.)— Your plant is Astrantia 
maxima, or Largest Masterwort. (M. E. S.). —1. Polvgala vulgaris. 
2. Pinguicula vulgaris. 3. Euphrasia officinalis, a. Myosotis alpestris. 
5. Salix caprea. 6. Euphorbia Helioscopia. 7- Mercurialis perennis. 
(J. N. Q.)—' Your tree is the Sycamore, Acer Pseudo-Platanus, which 
sows itself like a weed. Remove your young trees as soon as possible 
after Christmas. Cutting through their roots all round now will facilitate 
the operation. 
Pea-fow'l Rearing (J.F. E.). —We have sent your note to Martin 
Doyle. 
London: Printed hr Harry WooLDRinGF., Winchester High-street, 
in the Parish of Saint Mary Kalendar; and Published by William 
Somerville Orr, at the Office, No. 2, Amen Corner, in the 1 arish ot 
Christ Church, City of London.—July 4th, 1850, 
